Tuesday, June 20, 2006
They Are All Mute Dogs!
Me? Offended? The anonymous comments from the previous post makes personal attacks on my education. My friend from Jezreel’s Journey rebuked this person with Biblical truth and I thank Jez for coming to my defense. I am pretty thick-skinned. After all, I had a big brother growing up! A disturbing observation of recent years is, when I do become offended by heretics and blasphemers within the Church, the long-predicted false prophets, I am quickly accused of divisiveness and (shudder) intolerance!
There is some valid teaching in John Bevere’s The Bait of Satan: Living Free From the Deadly Trap of Offense. The battle in the spiritual realm must be fought with perseverance in fervent prayer. Pray without ceasing! And I appreciate the leaders’ acknowledgement of Matthew 18 confrontation toward sin. But why is it, when offense toward leadership of the Church is the subject, an intervention of the physical kind is off-limits? Therefore, our current situation is one of dictatorship and tyranny of the clergy. I would not mind if by some miracle, their dictator was God! Unfortunately, these untouchables should not be booted out at every turn; the Word of God is offensive. Godly men would surely come under attack. Truth hurts and people do get heated---lol, I should know! Offense by itself is not the true measure. So perhaps a counsel or jury of pastors could maintain a more objective review. I liked this idea my friend had. On the other hand, it could be dangerous at least in my town! A majority of the pastors are mainline, and by assumption liberal relativists and very probable humanists. I’m just not sure there is an answer. Do it by denomination and you will never cure the false prophet pandemic in the Church!
There is an abundance of denial and cover-up. Blankly, blindly and I say sinfully, leaders send the sheep to their deaths by pushing churchianity: “Church, the only way to grow.” “Church, the only way to be Christian.” What kind of church? “A Bible-teaching church!” But the teaching in far too many circles is from their rendition of the Bible. I would go so far as to say Bevere has managed to offer an incomplete study on offense and forgiveness by dissuading us from the Scripture on discernment of good and evil, judgment, rebuking, expelling an immoral brother and general accountability. Pure tolerance is what you have left. Half-truth and in Bevere’s own words, “incorrect division of God’s Word”!
Because the Body called the Church righteously reveres impatience with judgmental intolerance and accountability, even when the target is Satan himself and those who would be used by him, I have become the one under rebuke and correction, more than once. Do not “stir up dissension among brothers.” It is an abomination to God! (Proverbs 6:16-19) But shredding God’s Word to pieces? Aaah, don’t worry about it! Quoting page 40, “When we repeat something with the intention of separating or damaging relationships or reputations—even though it is true—it is still an affront to God.”
The twist is uncanny. I speak Truth and defend God’s honor and authority through His Living Word…yet I am ostracized while the liars and deceivers will remain a protected class with forked tongues. It is not a war to be fought only on bended knee (I stress the essential reliance on God). Words, and when necessary, actions, are this Christian worldview warrior’s line of offense. My friend reminded me of one of those childhood lessons that stuck with me, though you won’t find it in the Bible: “God helps those who help themselves.”
Two justified occasions for judgment are spelled out in the William MacDonald Bible Believer’s Commentary:
1) to preserve God’s honor
2) to protect others
I am not easily offended but don’t go after my God or my loved ones. Jez, I love your spunk and spirit. You are right to judge for the sake of His glory. Thank you, sister!
“Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge;
They are all mute dogs, they cannot bark;
They lie around and dream, they love to sleep.
They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough.
They are shepherds who lack understanding;
They all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.” ~Isaiah 56:10-11
There is some valid teaching in John Bevere’s The Bait of Satan: Living Free From the Deadly Trap of Offense. The battle in the spiritual realm must be fought with perseverance in fervent prayer. Pray without ceasing! And I appreciate the leaders’ acknowledgement of Matthew 18 confrontation toward sin. But why is it, when offense toward leadership of the Church is the subject, an intervention of the physical kind is off-limits? Therefore, our current situation is one of dictatorship and tyranny of the clergy. I would not mind if by some miracle, their dictator was God! Unfortunately, these untouchables should not be booted out at every turn; the Word of God is offensive. Godly men would surely come under attack. Truth hurts and people do get heated---lol, I should know! Offense by itself is not the true measure. So perhaps a counsel or jury of pastors could maintain a more objective review. I liked this idea my friend had. On the other hand, it could be dangerous at least in my town! A majority of the pastors are mainline, and by assumption liberal relativists and very probable humanists. I’m just not sure there is an answer. Do it by denomination and you will never cure the false prophet pandemic in the Church!
There is an abundance of denial and cover-up. Blankly, blindly and I say sinfully, leaders send the sheep to their deaths by pushing churchianity: “Church, the only way to grow.” “Church, the only way to be Christian.” What kind of church? “A Bible-teaching church!” But the teaching in far too many circles is from their rendition of the Bible. I would go so far as to say Bevere has managed to offer an incomplete study on offense and forgiveness by dissuading us from the Scripture on discernment of good and evil, judgment, rebuking, expelling an immoral brother and general accountability. Pure tolerance is what you have left. Half-truth and in Bevere’s own words, “incorrect division of God’s Word”!
Because the Body called the Church righteously reveres impatience with judgmental intolerance and accountability, even when the target is Satan himself and those who would be used by him, I have become the one under rebuke and correction, more than once. Do not “stir up dissension among brothers.” It is an abomination to God! (Proverbs 6:16-19) But shredding God’s Word to pieces? Aaah, don’t worry about it! Quoting page 40, “When we repeat something with the intention of separating or damaging relationships or reputations—even though it is true—it is still an affront to God.”
The twist is uncanny. I speak Truth and defend God’s honor and authority through His Living Word…yet I am ostracized while the liars and deceivers will remain a protected class with forked tongues. It is not a war to be fought only on bended knee (I stress the essential reliance on God). Words, and when necessary, actions, are this Christian worldview warrior’s line of offense. My friend reminded me of one of those childhood lessons that stuck with me, though you won’t find it in the Bible: “God helps those who help themselves.”
Two justified occasions for judgment are spelled out in the William MacDonald Bible Believer’s Commentary:
1) to preserve God’s honor
2) to protect others
I am not easily offended but don’t go after my God or my loved ones. Jez, I love your spunk and spirit. You are right to judge for the sake of His glory. Thank you, sister!
“Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge;
They are all mute dogs, they cannot bark;
They lie around and dream, they love to sleep.
They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough.
They are shepherds who lack understanding;
They all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.” ~Isaiah 56:10-11
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